The Flying Fijians will remain in 9th place in the IRB World Rankings after a last-gasp win over Japan yesterday in the Pacific Nations Cup competition.

A loss could have seen them go down on the rankings while Japan will also remain at fourteen.

A converted try in the dying seconds clinched Fiji the 40-39 victory. Number eight Netani Talei was the star when he powered through the despairing tackles of the Japanese defense to force the ball down and present inside centre Seremaia Bai, with a simple conversion attempt to secure the narrowest of wins.

The victory in the final match of the five-nation series lifted Fiji above Samoa into second place - their best ever finish - behind the Junior All Blacks in the round robin competition.